Cain.I never310
As yet have bowed unto my father's God.
Although my brother Abel oft implores
That I would join with him in sacrifice:—
Why should I bow to thee?
Lucifer.Hast thou ne'er bowed
To him?
Cain. Have I not said it?—need I say it?
Could not thy mighty knowledge teach thee that?
Lucifer. He who bows not to him has bowed to me.[1]
Cain. But I will bend to neither.
Lucifer.Ne'er the less,
Thou art my worshipper; not worshipping
Him makes thee mine the same.
Cain.And what is that? 320
Lucifer. Thou'lt know here—and hereafter.
Cain.Let me but
Be taught the mystery of my being.
Lucifer.Follow
Where I will lead thee.
Cain. But I must retire
To till the earth—for I had promised—
Lucifer.What?
Cain. To cull some first-fruits.
Lucifer.Why?
Cain. To offer up
With Abel on an altar.
Lucifer.Said'st thou not
Thou ne'er hadst bent to him who made thee?
Cain.Yes—
But Abel's earnest prayer has wrought upon me;
The offering is more his than mine—and Adah—
Lucifer. Why dost thou hesitate?
Cain.She is my sister,330
- ↑ [Dr. Arnold, speaking of Cain, used to say, "There is something to me almost awful in meeting suddenly, in the words of such a man, so great and solemn a truth as is expressed in that speech of Lucifer, "He who bows not to God hath bowed to me" (Stanley's Life of Arnold, ed. 1887, i. 263. note). It may be awful, but it is not strange. Byron was seldom at a loss for a text, and must have been familiar with the words, "He that is not with Me is against Me." Moreover, he was a man of genius!]
